I know it may seem a little strange, but I have been collecting ideas and items for our annual birthday party already. For those of you who don't know, all three of my boys' birthdays fall within 2 weeks (late Sept / early Oct) so we always have one big party. One party means one theme. And I always let them choose the theme... as long as they choose before summer hits.
A big party for three little boys, family, and friends takes a lot of planning. So I like to break it up over about 6 months. I know, CRAZY! Pinterest has definitely made the "idea development" part of the planning more streamlined, but I still like to wander the stores and websites periodically to find those clearance steals that you cannot plan for. Just because I have one party for 3 boys does not mean my budget is 3 times bigger.
This year's theme is ROBOTZ - but not OUTERSPACE. Do you know how difficult it is to find robot items that do not also include spaceships? Who decided that all robots come from outerspace?
So here is what my frugal shopping has achieved thus far:
1. Robot Valentines (which will become invitations) 32 for $1
2. Robot Coloring Books (full size) 15 for $3
3. Robot Pencils and Pencil Cases 16 for under $8
4. Robot Finger Puppets 16 for $2
5. Stretchy Robots 16 for $2
6. Robot Notebooks (5x7) 15 for $6
7. I will obviously be buying some sort of robot candy (I like the options that Oriental Trading Co has) and that will complete my goodie bag items. I am still looking for a "deal" on this item.
I am a huge fan of letting the kids pack their own goodie bags. Three years ago we did this for our Pirate Party. I gave each child a pirate map and sent them on a scavenger hunt around the yard to find their pirate booty. It was a fun activity for the kids and it was one less thing I had to do to prep for the big day. I am still working out my Robot-theme scavenger hunt, but it is definitely going to happen.
I am sure I will be posting more about this throughout the coming months, so check back often!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May Day
May Day has come awfully fast this year! The first of May signifies a lot of different things for different people (as I have learned by reading many blogs and Facebook posts today). For me, it signifies that the end of school is near. Summer is a fun time for me and my boys because they get to spend most of their days outdoors. But the allure of your own backyard only lasts a day or two, and then the whining and fighting begins.
So to keep my 3 little ones busy, I always plan out one activity per day of the summer. And I find it very helpful to stick with a daily theme. Here is what I have in store for this summer:
Sundays: Family Game Night - most of the day is taken up with church, so game night is a nice way to wind down the weekend. It is a huge bonus that my boys LOVE boardgames - this can be done in any weather!
Mondays: "Drive-in" Day - I plan to have each of my boys design their own "car" out of cardboard boxes (thank you Pinterest for the idea). We will take turns choosing a movie to watch from our "cars" while eating a fun movie meal (hot dogs and popcorn?). Everyone will get one movie choice each month (the 3 boys and myself).
Tuesdays: "Make-Your Own" Day - some weeks this will be a craft, other weeks it will be a meal or dessert. I figure it is a good way for me to get the boys into cooking and trying new foods.
Wednesdays: "Be Our Guest" Night - each family member will have one night where they are the special guest for dinner. The special guest will get to choose the menu, the theme, and the attire for dinner. And best of all, everyone else will have to wait on the special guest! I can't wait for it to be my turn!!!
Thursdays: Library Day - our local library does summer story time on Thursday mornings, so we will be making our weekly trip to join in. Afterwards, the boys will each get to pick out 2 books for the week.
Friday: "Outside Activity" Day - this will be the day where we do something organized outdoors like a scavenger hunt, chalk mural, picnic in the park, or backyard obstacle course! I might even use library day to plan ideas for this day...
Saturday: Day with Dad - Dad works during the week, so I'll let him entertain the boys on the weekend. I'm sure they'll do fun things like wash the car, weed the lawn, and maybe even play catch : )
I hope you have fun plans for the coming months - time sure does fly by!
So to keep my 3 little ones busy, I always plan out one activity per day of the summer. And I find it very helpful to stick with a daily theme. Here is what I have in store for this summer:
Sundays: Family Game Night - most of the day is taken up with church, so game night is a nice way to wind down the weekend. It is a huge bonus that my boys LOVE boardgames - this can be done in any weather!
Mondays: "Drive-in" Day - I plan to have each of my boys design their own "car" out of cardboard boxes (thank you Pinterest for the idea). We will take turns choosing a movie to watch from our "cars" while eating a fun movie meal (hot dogs and popcorn?). Everyone will get one movie choice each month (the 3 boys and myself).
Tuesdays: "Make-Your Own" Day - some weeks this will be a craft, other weeks it will be a meal or dessert. I figure it is a good way for me to get the boys into cooking and trying new foods.
Wednesdays: "Be Our Guest" Night - each family member will have one night where they are the special guest for dinner. The special guest will get to choose the menu, the theme, and the attire for dinner. And best of all, everyone else will have to wait on the special guest! I can't wait for it to be my turn!!!
Thursdays: Library Day - our local library does summer story time on Thursday mornings, so we will be making our weekly trip to join in. Afterwards, the boys will each get to pick out 2 books for the week.
Friday: "Outside Activity" Day - this will be the day where we do something organized outdoors like a scavenger hunt, chalk mural, picnic in the park, or backyard obstacle course! I might even use library day to plan ideas for this day...
Saturday: Day with Dad - Dad works during the week, so I'll let him entertain the boys on the weekend. I'm sure they'll do fun things like wash the car, weed the lawn, and maybe even play catch : )
I hope you have fun plans for the coming months - time sure does fly by!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
he likes it; he really likes it!
I haven't been blogging much because we are in the process of moving. Reading contracts has become a daily activity of mine (one I am not all that fond of) and has taken the place of other pursuits.
Fortunately, this process has led me to a wonderful discovery!
"Spallburgers" - don't blame me for the name, my 7 year old named them.
Spallburgers are meatball & spaghetti sauce sandwiches served on mini hamburger (slider) buns, complete with shredded mozzerella cheese. I have been trying to come up with meals that use the frozen items we have accumulated (since I really do not want to move frozen food across states). While searching through the freezer tonight, I found a bag of my mom's "famous" meatballs (famous to my children) and I immediately thought "Not spaghetti again!" Then my eye caught the frozen slider buns and a lightbulb went off. I love meatball sandwiches and the boys love anything mini - it was worth a try.
And it was definitely worth it. All three of my boys gobbled them down! So fast, in fact, that I didn't even get a chance to take a pic to include here. Spallburgers are definitely going on the rotation of "leftover meals".
Fortunately, this process has led me to a wonderful discovery!
"Spallburgers" - don't blame me for the name, my 7 year old named them.
Spallburgers are meatball & spaghetti sauce sandwiches served on mini hamburger (slider) buns, complete with shredded mozzerella cheese. I have been trying to come up with meals that use the frozen items we have accumulated (since I really do not want to move frozen food across states). While searching through the freezer tonight, I found a bag of my mom's "famous" meatballs (famous to my children) and I immediately thought "Not spaghetti again!" Then my eye caught the frozen slider buns and a lightbulb went off. I love meatball sandwiches and the boys love anything mini - it was worth a try.
And it was definitely worth it. All three of my boys gobbled them down! So fast, in fact, that I didn't even get a chance to take a pic to include here. Spallburgers are definitely going on the rotation of "leftover meals".
Friday, April 20, 2012
Birthday Postcard
I have been slacking in the blog department. I actually have been slacking in the entire crafting world. I guess that is what the stress of selling and buying houses can do to a person. But I did manage to do a little something today.
My mother-in-law's birthday is next week and we are seeing her this weekend, so I asked the boys what they would like to give her. My seven year old replied that he thought a bottle of wine would be nice - I didn't think that was such a good idea. So they came up with the idea to give her a coupon to redeem - something that they could all enjoy doing together. And this is what I created:
I cannot take credit for doing anything but putting the pieces together. I found the word art on Pinterest (but the link to the original site was not working, so I cannot give proper credit). And the ribbons and background paper are freebies from Amy Teets.
I printed it on cardstock and gave it to the boys to personalize on the back. Hopefully she likes what they came up with!
My mother-in-law's birthday is next week and we are seeing her this weekend, so I asked the boys what they would like to give her. My seven year old replied that he thought a bottle of wine would be nice - I didn't think that was such a good idea. So they came up with the idea to give her a coupon to redeem - something that they could all enjoy doing together. And this is what I created:
I cannot take credit for doing anything but putting the pieces together. I found the word art on Pinterest (but the link to the original site was not working, so I cannot give proper credit). And the ribbons and background paper are freebies from Amy Teets.
I printed it on cardstock and gave it to the boys to personalize on the back. Hopefully she likes what they came up with!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Easter Activities
I absolutely love the Easter season. Mostly because it is all about new life. I love the flowers starting to bloom, I love the warmer temps, I love the bright springy colors, and I love the joy that envelopes everyone.
But I do not love the dreaded week of Spring Break. Especially if it happens to be a rainy week and I have 3 little boys just itching to go out and jump in muddy puddles! So I always try to have a back-up plan. This year I have prepared myself with Usborne's book "50 Easter Things to Make and Do". You can check it out here.
One of the first activities we will be doing is a Bunny Box.
But I do not love the dreaded week of Spring Break. Especially if it happens to be a rainy week and I have 3 little boys just itching to go out and jump in muddy puddles! So I always try to have a back-up plan. This year I have prepared myself with Usborne's book "50 Easter Things to Make and Do". You can check it out here.
One of the first activities we will be doing is a Bunny Box.
We always leave goodies out for Santa, why not the Easter Bunny? I'm still working out what to leave for the Easter Bunny... I'm thinking that chocolate covered strawberries disguised as carrots would be a good choice (a Pinterest idea, of course)!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Challenge Yourself
I think that should be my motto this year, if I was into that sort of thing.
Here is a summary of what I have challenged myself with so far:
1. start and keep up a blog (as you can see, I am fairly successful at that so far)
2. create more projects using material (my stuffies have been my main fabric project - see my 1st one here)
3. start digital scrapbooking (I have been on a roll with digital layouts recently)
4. enter more scrapbooking challenges from multiple sites: here are two challenges I have completed this week
"Blue"
Oh yeah, and I also am being "challenged" by having to move again in 7 months!!! Keeping a house clean with 3 little boys is the biggest challenge of all!
What are some of your challenges this year?
Here is a summary of what I have challenged myself with so far:
1. start and keep up a blog (as you can see, I am fairly successful at that so far)
2. create more projects using material (my stuffies have been my main fabric project - see my 1st one here)
3. start digital scrapbooking (I have been on a roll with digital layouts recently)
4. enter more scrapbooking challenges from multiple sites: here are two challenges I have completed this week
"Stretch"
and the sketch from Twisted Sketches
"Blue"
and the sketch from Scrapbook Challenges
Oh yeah, and I also am being "challenged" by having to move again in 7 months!!! Keeping a house clean with 3 little boys is the biggest challenge of all!
What are some of your challenges this year?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It's a Digital World
I find myself singing "livin in a digital world, and I am a digital girl" to the tune of Madonna's "Material Girl".
Why? So glad you asked. It is mainly because I have finally thrown myself into digital scrapbooking. And I actually kinda like it. Now it will never replace my paper scrapbooks - those are a completely different way for me to record different memories. I find that the digital pages allow me to capture the tiny not-so-significant moments that my larger scrapbooks miss. And I don't ever plan on turning them into physical book either. They are purely a creative outlet for me.
Here are a few of the pages I have done so far:
All of these digital elements were free! I want to give credit to all of the wonderful designers and send them a big thank you for sharing their work - it is very generous of them. Swing by and check out their work!
Sahlin Studios
Britt-ish Designs
Shabby Princess
Why? So glad you asked. It is mainly because I have finally thrown myself into digital scrapbooking. And I actually kinda like it. Now it will never replace my paper scrapbooks - those are a completely different way for me to record different memories. I find that the digital pages allow me to capture the tiny not-so-significant moments that my larger scrapbooks miss. And I don't ever plan on turning them into physical book either. They are purely a creative outlet for me.
Here are a few of the pages I have done so far:
All of these digital elements were free! I want to give credit to all of the wonderful designers and send them a big thank you for sharing their work - it is very generous of them. Swing by and check out their work!
Sahlin Studios
Britt-ish Designs
Shabby Princess
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